Well, they're out there but you have to look for them and not hesitate when you see one that works for you. Another thing to consider is how traditional do you want to be. There is some newer makers out there who don't regulate the barrels in the traditional manner. They come some degree less expensive, generally. They use some kind of "jack screw" method, which you can adjust as well. I think soundguy has one like that and I believe he likes it.
British doubles are always the most expensive. The higher grade German doubles are quite a bit less BUT, they're still going be 5K or over. What I've found is you look for between the wars and pre-WWI and for cartridges less than popular. You SHOULD be able to find something between 3K and 5K. I fear the days of $2,000.00 doubles are over. However, the thing with those doubles is you might have to form the brass from a donor case. The vast majority of the time that is a simple process but, before you pull the trigger on a double in an obscure cartridge, exhaust all resources to make certain it can be formed. There's very, very few that can't be formed but, the level of work can vary significantly.
You can spend almost as much for a muzzleloading double but I would recommend fervently against a M/L double being your first.
Doubles not Nitro proofed and for old BP Express cartridges are....oh my....I think they're the best BUT, I LIKE foolin' with the really oldsters. Sometimes they can be had quite for quite a bit less than something in a modern chambering. They aren't for the faint of heart or if you don't like chasing a load, loading BP cartridges, experimenting, being FRUSTRATED OUT OF YOUR SKULL sometimes, for a while or thinking....a lot....about what the load is doing from two barrels, soldered together, that YOU are trying to get to shoot to the same place. Oh they are such fun!!!!!....seriously!
Frankly, stay away from Sabatti and there's another make out there, Russian I think, that a fella should avoid.
Chapuis, which is French, is a good double and in some good cartridges but, you're back up around 7K+.
Let me suggest a book you get and read first. It should enlighten you considerably about the workings of a traditional double rifle. It is by Grahame Wright and titled "Shooting the British Double Rifle." He's an Aussie and when the first edition came out there had been a slug of British doubles coming into Australia from India so the British doubles are where he and his contributors garnered their experience. Everything he's written is applicable to any traditional double, regardless of country of origin. Ballistics don't care if it's spoken in English, German, French, Austrian or hieroglyphics.
There's been a few editions of the book and I don't know what the later ones might have expanded into. Regardless, it's a good read if a fella never gets a double.
Doubles are a "ton of fun" and, for me, especially the old ones. If you haul it to a range you'll get all kinds of assumptions, quizzical looks, probably an errant smart aleck comment and usually, a lot of admirers...and questions, which is part of the fun.
One more thing, a word about scoped doubles. They are either regulated for the scope OR open sights. It is a rare thing indeed that you will find one that shoots to the same POA with both sighting systems. It has to do with added weight to the barrels and the recoil impulse. It shouldn't take a lot of thinking to understand why.
And, here's my favorite place to shop for doubles. They are subdivided by; country of origin, antique and small caliber. I'll throw up the German doubles first. A trip back to the index will show the others.
Double Rifles - German for sale (gunsinternational.com)
Edit: I'll even go a step further. Here's one I've had my eye on. I think this is a pretty nice double. DON'T look for "8.7 X 72R" ammo. I'd bet the price of this double the actual cartridge is 9.3 X 72R, which is still available as factory ammo. With the German doubles a fella needs some knowledge of how they named cartridges and, as with American cartridge, that sometimes things ain't what they appear to be. The 9.3 X 72R is similar to our old 38-55 and is a fine, old cartridge. Miller and Val Greiss was a fine maker.
FINE ANTIQUE BACK ACTION DOUBLE BARREL RIFLE by MILLER & VAL. GREISS – MUNCHEN from COLLECTING TEXAS – MADE in 1800’s for sale (gunsinternational.com)
British doubles are always the most expensive. The higher grade German doubles are quite a bit less BUT, they're still going be 5K or over. What I've found is you look for between the wars and pre-WWI and for cartridges less than popular. You SHOULD be able to find something between 3K and 5K. I fear the days of $2,000.00 doubles are over. However, the thing with those doubles is you might have to form the brass from a donor case. The vast majority of the time that is a simple process but, before you pull the trigger on a double in an obscure cartridge, exhaust all resources to make certain it can be formed. There's very, very few that can't be formed but, the level of work can vary significantly.
You can spend almost as much for a muzzleloading double but I would recommend fervently against a M/L double being your first.
Doubles not Nitro proofed and for old BP Express cartridges are....oh my....I think they're the best BUT, I LIKE foolin' with the really oldsters. Sometimes they can be had quite for quite a bit less than something in a modern chambering. They aren't for the faint of heart or if you don't like chasing a load, loading BP cartridges, experimenting, being FRUSTRATED OUT OF YOUR SKULL sometimes, for a while or thinking....a lot....about what the load is doing from two barrels, soldered together, that YOU are trying to get to shoot to the same place. Oh they are such fun!!!!!....seriously!
Frankly, stay away from Sabatti and there's another make out there, Russian I think, that a fella should avoid.
Chapuis, which is French, is a good double and in some good cartridges but, you're back up around 7K+.
Let me suggest a book you get and read first. It should enlighten you considerably about the workings of a traditional double rifle. It is by Grahame Wright and titled "Shooting the British Double Rifle." He's an Aussie and when the first edition came out there had been a slug of British doubles coming into Australia from India so the British doubles are where he and his contributors garnered their experience. Everything he's written is applicable to any traditional double, regardless of country of origin. Ballistics don't care if it's spoken in English, German, French, Austrian or hieroglyphics.
There's been a few editions of the book and I don't know what the later ones might have expanded into. Regardless, it's a good read if a fella never gets a double.
Doubles are a "ton of fun" and, for me, especially the old ones. If you haul it to a range you'll get all kinds of assumptions, quizzical looks, probably an errant smart aleck comment and usually, a lot of admirers...and questions, which is part of the fun.
One more thing, a word about scoped doubles. They are either regulated for the scope OR open sights. It is a rare thing indeed that you will find one that shoots to the same POA with both sighting systems. It has to do with added weight to the barrels and the recoil impulse. It shouldn't take a lot of thinking to understand why.
And, here's my favorite place to shop for doubles. They are subdivided by; country of origin, antique and small caliber. I'll throw up the German doubles first. A trip back to the index will show the others.
Double Rifles - German for sale (gunsinternational.com)
Edit: I'll even go a step further. Here's one I've had my eye on. I think this is a pretty nice double. DON'T look for "8.7 X 72R" ammo. I'd bet the price of this double the actual cartridge is 9.3 X 72R, which is still available as factory ammo. With the German doubles a fella needs some knowledge of how they named cartridges and, as with American cartridge, that sometimes things ain't what they appear to be. The 9.3 X 72R is similar to our old 38-55 and is a fine, old cartridge. Miller and Val Greiss was a fine maker.
FINE ANTIQUE BACK ACTION DOUBLE BARREL RIFLE by MILLER & VAL. GREISS – MUNCHEN from COLLECTING TEXAS – MADE in 1800’s for sale (gunsinternational.com)
